Animal Imagery in the Novel McTeague

A detailed Summary of Animal Imagery in the Novel McTeague


The novel McTeague by Frank Norris emphasizes the very basic idea of greed and the animalistic effects that greed produces in the human race. The central characters of the novel come together in San Francisco during the Gold Rush Period. The novel revolves around a character known as McTeague, or affectionately known as Mac, an apprenticed dentist, and the movement his life takes. The novel begins with the young McTeague working in a mine and transcends through his life as a professional, his marriage, and his eventual death.

Frank Norris' narrator portrays the characters of the novel McTeague as animals masquerading in human clothing. The characters are a direct representation of the reprehensible side of humanity that lingers beneath the surface, waiting for the opportune time to shed its skin and manifest itself. Throughout the novel, the characters repeatedly battle their inner desire to break free from their human skin and be the true animal that Norris metaphorically portrays them to be. However, it is important to note


Norris shows the reader further evidence of animal similes through the unfolding of the character Trina. The nature of Trina is so simple that her inner transformation into a creature is portrayed relatively without consequence. The mere thought of the dentist initially repels Trina, but as soon as Mac's dominance is cast, she falls under the spell, craving more and more; the animal need within is awakened. As Trina submits to the domination and feeds on the physical torture that her husband inflicts upon her, she develops a sense of pleasure and hunger that demands further agony. The ongoing need for additional finger mauling by Mac and the boasting of her inflictions to Maria, her confidant, confirms this statement. As her character progresses in the novel, Trina transforms herself from the young woman who once took pride in her appearance into the wretched creature worthy only of living in barren soiled conditions. Because of her lack of hygiene, she looses her thumbs, leaving her hands looking like that of an animal. This f

Some common words found in the essay are:
Frank Norris', Trina Mac, Rush Period, Frank Norris, novel mcteague, characters novel, , frank norris', human qualities,

Approximate Word count = 700
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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